chrisd
Major Champion
Food banks would have been a Godsend as far back as I can remember for some
Jeremy Corbyn
- Thread starter Doon frae Troon
- Start date
Food banks would have been a Godsend as far back as I can remember for some
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
For the unemployed yes.........not for the employed
chrisd
Major Champion
Rubbish! ........ Not everyone was paid a living wage back in the 1950's and 60's when benefits were very restricted and often means tested
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I think pro rata the working poor were a lot better off in the 50/60's than they are now.
Remember they had unions in those days.
chrisd
Major Champion
Presumably you didn't live through those times!
CheltenhamHacker
Journeyman Pro
I wasn't around back then at all, on what basis do you judge this? Without being obtuse, but surely you were too young to judge back then as to what was really happening? (assuming you're less than 80?).
Google is your friend. They've been there for quite a while, even in Labour's last govt. There's a really good report on them and the increase, which is linear, and sadly spectacular. in 2008(longer than 5 yrs ago Doon) there were 49, and now over 400.
There's even an instruction to job centres to send people to them. Even the State recognises the support they now give, inc vouchers for gas and elec for those with card meters.
chrisd
Major Champion
Not so much of the 80 !!
I was born 1952 and working at 15 as were many of us. Both the unemployed and the working poor had it tough compared to the 80's and onwards. My mother bought up 5 of us single handed, worked as best she could and would have benefited greatly from food banks
CheltenhamHacker
Journeyman Pro
Forgive me, I forgot the youngerworking age as was thinking of 25, before someone could really properly assess the situation in somewhere more than their own town.
chrisd
Major Champion
Obviously we only knew what we could see ourselves, televisions, for those that had them, were black and white, no internet or phones so gauging how life was in other parts of the country was almost impossible. I had a difficult time as a youngster but by no means as hard as some. I remember in winter going to bed when it got dark as we didn't have any money for the electric meter, or having bread and jam for dinner, without butter, as there wasn't money to buy anything by the end of the week. I used to have to put cardboard in my jumble sale shoes once they had a hole in the sole so I didn't get too wet and before my next secondhand pair arrived!
It was tough but, hey, I didn't come to any harm and did ok
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Closed answer to a closed question - No.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Born in 1948 to a relatively poor family [in those days]
bluewolf
Money List Winner
There is no doubt that the increased visibility of foodbanks is resulting in a proportion of the spectacular growth in their use. However, don't we, as a society, need to feel slightly alarmed at the fact that in one of the most forward thinking, socially responsible and progressive countries in the World we still require charity to feed our lowest 10%?
As an aside. During my recent short spell of unemployment, I volunteered to work in my local foodbank. I was pleased to be told that due to the large number of volunteers there would only be a few hours a week available. In the end I didn't get chance to spend any time volunteering there, but in the short time I was walking around I can assure you that the people who came in were definitely in need of help. They were not "people taking advantage of the system".
An interesting (if slightly alarmist) article on my hometown - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/follow-george-orwells-road-wigan-5583390
As an aside. During my recent short spell of unemployment, I volunteered to work in my local foodbank. I was pleased to be told that due to the large number of volunteers there would only be a few hours a week available. In the end I didn't get chance to spend any time volunteering there, but in the short time I was walking around I can assure you that the people who came in were definitely in need of help. They were not "people taking advantage of the system".
An interesting (if slightly alarmist) article on my hometown - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/follow-george-orwells-road-wigan-5583390
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Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I wonder what Labour will do if Corbyn gets as big a first vote as they predict.
Interesting times ahead.
Interesting times ahead.
chrisd
Major Champion
I Don't see anything 'interesting' ahead, Labour we be unelectable and Conservatives will win the next election - life as it should be!
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Alan Johnsons book 'This Boy' gives a good insight on growing up during the '50s for working class kids...
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Ethan
Money List Winner
I support Corbyn because although I now have a good job and an excellent income, I came from a council house, benefitted from free education, a student grant to go to Uni and unlike many Tories, I do not think that the ladder should be pulled up behind me now. I also support a publicly owned NHS unlike the current pseudo-marketised version which is wasting loads of public money which could be spent on actual healthcare.
I also do not like the war on welfare recipients and immigrants which is a mostly a distraction for the masses away from the wealthy who escaped the financial crash scot free and are now back to making loads more from such self-serving initiatives as the sale of RBS shares by their mate George (real name: Gideon, by the way), as well as an ideological crusade.
If that causes a split in Labour and the neo-Blairites break off and clear off, so be it.
I also do not like the war on welfare recipients and immigrants which is a mostly a distraction for the masses away from the wealthy who escaped the financial crash scot free and are now back to making loads more from such self-serving initiatives as the sale of RBS shares by their mate George (real name: Gideon, by the way), as well as an ideological crusade.
If that causes a split in Labour and the neo-Blairites break off and clear off, so be it.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
Many things are different from the time you grew up in and went to University. The population is much larger to start with and the numbers of people expecting a university education is massively larger. How do you propose the current numbers of undergraduates be funded; solely by the taxpayer or as now, partially by the tax payer and partially by the graduate?
Do you accept that more money is being spent on the NHS now than at any other time in history. Is there not huge amounts of waste in NHS procurement and spending priorities which have existed for a very long time now and not just under one political administration.
Do you believe that welfare should be available to the feckless, work shy and those who produce more children than they could afford even if working full time. Do you think tax credits should be used as tool to subsidise low paying Employers and what it was originally designed for; to buy Labour votes. I think just about everyone supports a welfare state that provides a safety net to those in genuine need or with disabilities but anyone who does not think there are large numbers of people 'swinging the lead' are very naive and taken in by the left wing press and politic. Just look around you in any town and city during working hours and see what goes on.
Maybe all these things could be funded by making very large tax increases to people like yourself so that you are punished for your own success and made to fund those that have no ambition or self determination. I think many would be seeking to move to other countries where they would be thought better of.
